A WOMAN who was obsessed with collecting animals kept 271 creatures crammed in her cottage in "dismal and depressing" conditions, a court heard today.

The animals - mostly dogs - were emaciated, often covered in faeces and urine and suffering from infections and injuries, Preston Magistrates' Court was told.

Nine of the animals had to be put down shortly after RSPCA inspectors removed them from the property.

Rosalind Gregson kept the animals in dark, dusty, dirty conditions in her home off Lindeth Road in Silverdale, Lancashire, with little water and food and hardly any ventilation, the court heard.

The 55-year-old denies 49 charges of failing to provide the animals with necessary care and attention.

Tim Bergin, prosecuting, told the court: "It is not the prosecution's case that this defendant maliciously caused cruelty to the animals in her home, simply that she allowed her obsession to collect animals, as it were, to overwhelm her.

"This resulted in her losing complete control and the ability to care for the animals in her charge."

Mr Bergin told the court that when the RSPCA visited Gregson's home in September 2003 they were confronted with more animals than they had ever seen in one house before.

"The animals were living and surviving in what can only be described as dismal and depressing conditions, where their needs simply were not met."

The dogs, cats and birds were mostly caged, often in pairs and sometimes in threes. Some of the dogs were unable to stand up to their full height, the court heard.

Disrepair

Mr Bergin told the court that the RSPCA first started to visit Gregson's property on August 23, 2003.

He said the house was in a "general state of disrepair" with rubbish, cat litter and open packs of tinned dog food scattered around outside.

The RSPCA officers could hear dogs barking and a parrot squawking, and there was "an odd feel about the place", Mr Bergin said.

On the first few visits there was no answer from the cottage, but the officers could see a number of cages through the windows and there was a strong smell of excrement and urine, the court heard.

Mr Bergin said: "There was an overpowering stench of ammonia that in itself caused the RSPCA officers to retreat from the house after only some moments."

When the RSPCA met Gregson for the first time on September 10 2003 she refused to tell them how many animals she was keeping in her home.

But when the officers entered the cottage they were confronted with cages of creatures such as dogs, cats, birds and chinchillas.

Mr Bergin said: "The condition of the animals was on the whole poor. Some were emaciated or thin with matted coats often covered with faeces and urine.

"Most of the dogs had eye infections and some had injuries which caused nine of the animals to be euthanased soon after."

He added: "There was little water and food and the house was generally in darkness, with little if no ventilation."

There was also evidence of rat infestation, fleas, dust and dirt, and the house was subject to extreme temperatures, the court heard.